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In a surprising turn of events at Players Championship 13 held in Rosmalen, Netherlands, Michael van Gerwen experienced yet another early exit from the tournament. The renowned Dutch player, a three-time world champion, faced a 6-4 defeat against Mario Vandenbogaerde, a competitor who started the day ranked 69th in the PDC Order of Merit. Van Gerwen’s performance saw him average a disappointing 85.73, marking his fourth opening-round defeat in the 2025 season.
Meanwhile, Damon Heta celebrated his first PDC title of the year with an 8-6 victory over Nathan Aspinall in the final match. This triumph propelled Heta to seventh place in the PDC Order of Merit, ending an eight-month drought without a title prior to this win.
Michael van Gerwen’s Pro Tour Performance
PC13: Last 128
PC12: Last 128
PC11: Last 128
ET2: Semi-finals
PC7: Last 128
PC6: Last 64
PC5: Quarter-finals
ET1: Last 32
PC3: Last 128
“I didn’t know when my next win would come, so I’m thrilled to have won today,” Heta expressed after his victory. He noted the unique nature of darts, where sometimes players can secure wins despite not performing at their best, while at other times they may feel undeservedly defeated even after a strong display. Heta is committed to refining his dart setup and is focused on optimizing his performance.
Heta progressed through the tournament by defeating Adam Hunt, Berry van Peer, and Andy Baetens, before overcoming Jermaine Wattimena in the quarter-finals. He then secured his place in the final by beating Karel Sedlacek and Andrew Gilding.
On another note, while van Gerwen was eliminated early, Gerwyn Price also faced an unexpected exit in the second round. Price had been forced to withdraw from the Premier League Darts in Berlin after suffering an unusual shoulder injury while trying on shirts, but he returned to competition at the AO Arena in Manchester last Thursday. After defeating Chris Dobey in his opening match, he succumbed to a 6-2 loss against the eventual champion of the night, Nathan Aspinall.
Upcoming Premier League Darts Matches
Fixtures: Night 11 at Rotterdam Ahoy on Thursday, April 17
As the Premier League Darts continues into its schedule, the next event will take place in Rotterdam Ahoy on Thursday, April 17. Key match-ups include Chris Dobey against Luke Humphries, Gerwyn Price up against Nathan Aspinall, Stephen Bunting facing Michael van Gerwen, and Luke Littler competing with Rob Cross. Fans can catch Night 11 of Premier League Darts live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports+ starting at 6 pm.
Sky Sports remains the exclusive broadcaster for the Premier League in 2025, featuring live coverage of all matches alongside prestigious events such as the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, and Grand Slam of Darts. Stream darts and other sports via NOW.
Source
www.skysports.com